30 college football players with the biggest shoes to fill in 2018

Shoes to Fill: Harrison Phillips

Though not as physically imposing as Vea, Stanford defensive lineman Harrison Phillips was just as important to his team. Playing primarily defensive tackle, but also at end, Phillips racked up an incredible 98 total tackles last season, and added 17.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. It was the second consecutive season in which the 6-foot-4, 295-pound Omaha native reached double digits in tackles for loss and accounted for seven or more sacks.

Unfortunately for Stanford, and unlike at Washington, there is no clear heir apparent to Phillips’ role for 2018. With defensive backs Justin Reid and Quinton Meeks jumping to the NFL a year early, Stanford must replace each of its top seven tacklers from last season, nine of its top 11, and 12 of 16.

But Stanford has some depth returning up front. Jovan Swann and Dylan Jackson emerged as starters alongside Phillips last season, and top backup Thomas Schaffer is back behind the pair at defensive end. Michael Williams, listed as the No. 2 defensive tackle behind Phillips, also returns with an opportunity to step into the starting lineup.

Williams signed with Stanford out of Fort Worth as a four-star prospect in the 2016 class, ranked No. 33 nationally among interior defensive line prospects, and No. 318 overall in the 247Sports Composite. Williams has climbed the depth chart during his first two seasons on the Farm but hasn’t made a huge impact statistically speaking. Williams accounted for just six tackles in 13 games last season – the only six of his career. However, with Phillips off to the NFL, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound rising junior will have an opportunity to have a larger effect next season.